“What did they say?” Appalakonda asked as soon as he stepped into the cellar portion of the apartment.

“What will they say?” Appa Rao responded in annoyance. “They said it’s not possible.”

Appalakonda’s spirit sank.Her face turned lifeless like a bulb that no longer offered light.

She was hopeful that the bridegroom’s family would not disappoint them.

“What should we do?” She looked at her husband’s face pathetically. 

“What can we say? It’s quite quizzical. The auspicious moment has been already fixed. All are informed. What more is there to do. Marriage has to be performed.”

“How can you say so?” Appalakonda’s voice quivered. “Did you ask for something forbidden? No. We only requested that money has to be deposited in favour of our daughter. That’s all!’ 

“They say that it had to be communicated during engagement. You shut your mouth then.”

True! When the alliance was settled it was not thought of.Even when dowry aspect was discussed, it was not in their mind to ask for depositing some portion of it in favour of their daughter in a bank It did not occur to them at that time.Appalakonda sighed in distress.Darkness was enveloping from outside.After swallowing last drop of light selfishly from the Sun the world was pushing him into the ocean!

She moved into the room with sadness spread on her face.She pressed the the switch to light up the room.Perhaps, the filament has been snapped.The room remained in darkness.Then she saw her daughter! 

Her daughter used to focus on her text books even in dim light.Though terms of her marriage have been finalised, there was no trace of joy, usually visible in girls, on her face.She was always engrossed in her studies. 

Perhaps, that was the reason for the lack of light in the faces of women residing in the apartments. 

“Why do you think of her marriage now itself?” asked the land lady in whose home Appalakonda worked as a maid.

“That’s her argument ammagaaru. She insists on further continuing her studies.”

“Absolutely correct!”

“In our families too girls are educated well these days amma garu. Boys are loitering aimlessly. Tell me, how can one find a suitable bridegroom for a well-educated girl?”

That lady could not speak further.

How could she know about oppression of women in prevailing social system.

“What about present times?” She continued. “Could one find a graduate as bridegroom for a girl who passed Intermediate class?”

“No ammagaru. That gentleman also studied up to intermediate class only. He is related to our family. Employed in this town only. Hence, we preferred and finalized this alliance.”
Agreement could not be arrived at as easily as fixing the alliance. It is said one is a cousin anywhere, but not at the eggplant farm.There won’t be any exemptions in dowry matters, however close is the relationship.

They demanded a dowry of three lakh rupees.Inaddition to it, mobike and marriage expences were to be added.Yet, Applakonda was not dettered.Marriage of apartment watchman’s daughter was akin to marriage of household in the apartment building. Appalakonda banked on some money that could be borrowed from her land lady, in addition to what was available with them.
“ It’s fine.Dowry amount can be managed.How about the mobike?” Appa Rao asked.

Twirling cigar in his mouth he thought for a while. After a minute his eyes sparkled.
“Look. Your younger brother owes us twenty thousand rupees. You ask him to repay the loan .”
Very true. He should be remined about it, Appalakonda also realised.Quite long ago when he was constructing his home he borrowed the money.Till date nothing was retuened, leave alone interest on the principle!

“Where will your money vanish when it is safe with me. Won’t I return it the moment you ask.” 

He used to reply in the same way whenever demand for repayment issue was raised. He continued it recently too.
“Don’t you worry akka. Your money is as safe as it is in A.T.M. Whenever you need it I will repay immediately. You take care of other issues related to marriage.” He said quite recently.

“I too told the same my dear brother-in-law. Your sister is unduly worried,” Appa Rao responded.
“You know your brother is not a daily-wage earner as earlier. Now he is a maistry moving on moblike !”  

Marriage was fixed.
Appalakonda gave a tinke on her mobile phone to her brother.

“What is this akka, you are getting anxious about money. Tomorrow I will give. How ever, you need to think of your daughter also, not always about money alone.”

“What are saying thammudu?”
“Just think for a while. All the funds you have is spent in getting a son-in-law to your home.Tomorrow...why to utter by myself…what happened to Soorammatha’s daughter? Hasn’t she returned home in six months after marriage…just remember.”

Appalakonda could not speak for a minute.

“Son-in-law is our man only. No issues. Yet, one needs to be careful.’

“What am I to do thammudu?”

“You ask them to deposit half of dowry amount in bank in favour of our girl.’

‘’They may not agree…”

“Why don’t they agree? You should convince them. Take advice from your land lady in the apartment. They are also following this practice.”

“Agreed. But they don’t belong to our caste.’

“This is related to money akka. How does caste matter in financial issues? You act as told by me. That fifty thousand rupees I will deposit in favour of your daughter. Don’t be scared. Your daughter is not an outsider for me. My own niece, you know!”

Appalalonda wad overwhelmed by her brother’s affectionate concern for her daughter.

She forced Appa Rao to visit the home of prospective son-in-law.

Appa Rao changed the fused bulb. 

Unable to decide what to do Appalakonda squatted on the floor.Suddenly she stood. She started briskly moving towards her brother’s home, as if some was chasing her.

The road was dark.Street lights which were like proverbial fair weather friends were not aglow.

She walked faster.Her brother’s home was located along the slope of a hill.A four room structure...she gave him a loan of twenty thousand rupees from her savings during construction of that home.

The door was closed.Perhaps due to power tripping there was no light.A wicker lamp was feebly glowing.But that light did not stetch beyond confines of the walls.

Some one was talking inside...

“Just a week ahead is the marriage date.” Her sister-in-law’s voice wad audible. 

“Are you crazy? Did I ever repay anyone the money that landed in my lap?”

“Does it mean…don’t you want to repay the loan?”

“With an intention not to repay I played a trick!”

“What have you done?’

“Didn’t I tell them to demand depositing half of dowry amount in the bank? Do you they will oblige? If they don’t oblige, my sister won’t budge. Then, a quarrel ensues. That’s all! No scope for the marriage. No need for me to repay the loan!”

She felt some thing slithering near her feet. Unbearable pain seared like spewed blood. 

Appalakonda collapsed due to the snake bite!

 [ 'PaamukaaTu' a Telugu short story written by Dr L.R.Swamy translated into English by T.S. Chandra Mouli]